Electric reel.



J. BERG.

ELECTRIC REEL.

APPL|CAT|0H HLED MAR. 3,1914. 1,260,626. Patented Mar. 26, 19 18.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

a% j a J. BERG.

ELECTRIC REEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1914.

1 Q% 26. Patented Mar. :0, 19m.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

JOHN BERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 METAL SPECIALTIES MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC REEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1%18.

Application filled March 3, 1914. Serial No. 822,219.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHN BERG, a citlzen of the United States, residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,.

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Reels, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to electric reels of the character adapted for use in housing the electric cords of exploring lamps, cigar lighters, etc.

The primary object is to provide a device of simple and cheap construction, which isnevertheless thoroughly durable and well adapted to its purpose.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front face view of an electric reel constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, an end elevational view of the same; Fig. 3, a reverse side view of the same; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5, a view showing the front casing-section removed and a portion of the spring-barrel broken away; Fig. 6, an inner view of the front casing-section; and Fig. 7, a front view of the device showing a portion of the front casing-section broken away and the annular contact-member, which is fixedly carried by the front casing-section, shown brokenly and partially exposed.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, A represents a rear or. base casing-section; A a front casing-section detachably connected therewith; B an axially disposed shaft joining the casing-sections, -which is equipped at its rear end with an adjusting handle B adapted to adjust the spring tension; C a reel revolubly mounted on the shaft and equipped with a spring-housing, or barrel 0; D a helical spring having its outer end secured to the peripheral wall of the spring housing C and having its inner end secured to the adjustably fixed shaft B; E a binding-post electrically connected with the casing-section A E, a binding post electrically connected with an insulated annular contact-member E mounted on the inner side of the front wall of the casingsection A; E a battery, or electric generator, connected with the binding-posts E, E so that the casing and the annular fixed contact-member E are electricallycharged;

and F an electric cord comprising electric conductors F F wound upon the reel C, one conductor F having its inner end electrically connected with the reel and therefore in electric connection with the casing, and the other conductor F having electric connection with a spring contact-member F msulatingly mounted on one flange of the reel and having its free extremity bearing against the fixed annular contact-member E The electric cord F passes from the reel through a peripheral opening in the casing, and is adapted for connection with an electric exploring lamp, an electric cigar lighter, or the like. As indicated, the battery E charges the casing and the annular contactmember E and the electrical circuit is completed from the casing through the reel, thence through the conductor F to the electric lamp, or the like, and thence from the lamp through the conductor F and spring contact-member F to the annular fixed contact-member E.

The casing is preferably in the form of a cylindrical box and a cylindrical cover therefor. The casing-section A comprises a disk 1 and a forwardly projecting flange 2. The casing-section A comprises a disk 3 and a rearwardly projecting flange 4 having an outwardly spun, or enlarged portion 4, which fits over the front portion of the flange 2. The disk 1 is provided-with attaching members 1, which are formed b severing portions of the metal and bending the same radially outward to afford attaching ears, which are made perforate to receive screws or rivets. The disk 1 is further provided with integral ratchet lugs 1, over which the handle B may be moved freely in winding the spring. When the desired tension is secured, the handle B is allowed to interlock with one of the ratchet lugs, or retainer lugs 1 The handle B comprises a stamping having its base portion provided with an angular opening secured on the reduced end of the shaft B and held thereon by a washer 5 and a screw 6, which extends into a threaded perforation in the rear end of the shaft. The extremity of the handle has one lateral edge portion bent or curved outwardly, as indicated at 7, so that the handle will ride freely over the lugs 1 in the operation of winding the spring.

The ring or annular contact-member E is preferably insulatingly mounted within the top cover-section A by providing it with clenching-lugs 8, which pass through and are clenched upon an annular insulating member 9, back of which is a similar annular insulating member 10 which protects or insulates the clenching-lugs 8. The annular insulating members 97 and 10 are, in turn, secured to an inner metallic disk 11, which is provided with clenchin -lugs 12, which pass through the insulating members and are clenched thereto in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The metallic disk 11 may be forced into the casing-section, and is preferably additionally secured therein by clenching-lugs 13 struck rearwardly from the disk 3. The clenching-lugs 13 are within a circle bounded by an outwardly struck annular bead 14 with which the disk 3 is provided. Within the bead 14 is dlsposed a finish-plate or name-plate 15. The front end of the shaft B extends through the disk 11, the disk 3, and the name-plate 15, and the name-plate and front casing-section are secured to the shaft by a washer 16 and a screw 17, the latter extending into a threaded socket in the front end of the shaft.

The reel C preferably comprises a pair of disks 18 and 19, separated by a cylindrical member 20 which has clenching-lugs 21 extending through perforations in the disks and are clenched upon the disks. The portions of the disk which project beyond the cylinder 20 afi'ord flanges between which the cord F is confined when wound upon the reel.

The spring housing C preferably comprises a cup-shaped member having a diskportion 22 and a cylindrical portion or flange 23, the flange 23 being equipped at its edge with clenching-lugs 24 which extend through perforations in the adjacent disk 18 and are clenched thereto.

The spring contact-member, or finger F is provided at its base portion with clenching-lugs 25 which extend through and are clenched upon a segmental insulating piece 26, back of which is a similar insulating piece 27. The insulating pieces 26 and 2 are secured to the flange portion of the disk 18 by clenching-lugs 28 struck forwardly from the disk 18, and passing through the insulating pieces and clenched on the front insulating piece 26, in the manner shown in Fig. 7. The spring contact-member F is bent away from the disk 18, and extends somewhat around the springcasing and across the space outside of the spring-casing, the free extremity of the member bearing against the stationary annular contact-member E The binding-post E is riveted directly to the disk 3 of the casing, while the bindmgpost E has a reduced portion 29 which extends through an insulating thimble 30 and through the insulation rings 9 and 10 and is secured directly to an car 31 with which the annular contact-member E is provided.

The electric cord F passes'from the casing-section A through a peripheral slot or opening 32, which is encircled by an embossment, or rounded bead 33, to prevent injury to the cord. The cord may be drawn from the casing by turning the drum C against the tension of the spring D; and, upon release of the cord, the spring will turn the drum in the opposite direction and rewind the cord upon the drum. The flange portion 20f the casing-section A may be provided near the opening 32 with a resilient hook 3 1- under which the cord may be passed to revent the spring from drawing the cor into the casing during such time as the electrical lamp or other electrical deviceattached to the cord is in use.

Inasmuch as the casing and the stationary annular contact-member E are charged, and thus virtually form the battery terminals, it will be understood that the circuit is or may be completed through the conductors F and F one of which 1s in electric connection through the drum and shaft with the casing,

. and the other of which is in electric connection with the ring E through the spring contact-finger F The improved device is especially useful in connection with automobiles and exploring lamps, telephones, cigar lighters, and the like, employed in connection therewith. Any electrical generator may be substituted for the battery E and where a one-wire system is employed, the casing may be grounded by attaching it to a metal portion of the automobile body, such as a metal dash.

The foregomg detailed description has been given for clearness of understandin only, and no unnecessary limitation shoulc l be-understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a base casing-section equipped at its base with attaching means, a shaft extending forwardly therefrom, a reel mounted on said shaft, and electrically connected with the casing through the medium of said shaft and a spring connected with said shaft and serving to actuate said reel, of a cap-section having a disk provided with clenching-lugs, an annular insulating member engaged by said clenching lugs, a fixed annular contact-member mounted on said annular insulating member, a conductor attaching member insulatin ly mounted on sa1d cap member and electrlcally connected with said annular contact-member, a co-actmg contact-member insulatin ly mounted on said reel, and electric con uctors wound upon sa1d reel and extending from said casing, one of said conductors electrically connected with said second-named contactmember and the other electrically connected with said reel.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casing comprising a flanged cap-section and a flanged complemental rear section equipped with supporting means, a shaft therein equipped at its rear end with external means' for turning it and securing it with relation to the casing, a reel mounted on said shaft and equipped with a spring housing, a spring having its inner end connected With said shaft and having its outer end connected with said housing, an annular contact-member fixedly secured to the cap-section of the casing, a coacting contact-membercarried by said reel, and electric conductors wound upon said reel and extending from said casing, one of said conductors having electrical connection with said second-named contact-member.

3. In a device of the characterset forth, the combination of a pair of casing-sections, a shaft uniting the same, a handle on one end of said shaft lying adjacent the outer surface of one of said casing sections, ratchet lugs on said casing-section co-acting with said handle, a reel and spring housing journaled on said shaft, a spring connecting the same with said shaft, electric conductors wound upon said reel and extending from said casing, a fixed annular contact-member insulatingly mounted within one casing-section at the end opposite that equipped with said ratchet lugs, and a contact-member insulatingly carried by said reel and engaging said annular contact-member, one of said electric conductors connected to said reel and the other to said second-named contactmember.

4. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casing comprising two complemental metal sections, an axial shaft connecting said sections, and in electrical connection therewith a spring-actuated metal reel mounted on said shaft, and electrically connected therewith electric conductors wound upon said reel and extending from said casing, a contact-member insu'latingly mounted on the reel, the other conductor being electrically connected to said reel and electrically connected with one of said electric conductors, an annular contact-member, means for seuring the same to the front casing-section, including clenching-lugs struck rearwardly from the front wall of said casing-section, and a finish-plate mounted on the front end of said shaft and covering the perforations formed by striking the clenching lugs inwardly.

JOHN BERG.

In presence of- N. B. DEARBORN, O. C. AVISUS. 

